Friend charged with murder in Roseville man's death

Police have arrested a Roseville man early Monday in connection with his friend’s murder.
Lt. Michael Doane of the Roseville Police Department said during a Monday morning press conference that Brad Robert Miller, 46, of Roseville, was arrested for the murder of Eric Dale McGhee, 40.
“Mr. Miller was arrested Saturday afternoon on a DUI charge,” Doane said. “He was transported to the Placer County Jail. When detectives had pieced together evidence, they went to the jail and arrested the suspect sometime around 4 a.m.”
Doane said that Miller had been driving the victim’s car Saturday.
“Many people reported the suspect’s erratic driving on Saturday,” Doane said. “The suspect was asleep behind the wheel when officers located the car.”
Doane said McGhee and Miller knew one another.
“They were friends,” Doane said. “The detectives are still trying to learn more about their relationship.”
Dee Dee Gunther, department spokeswoman, said members of McGhee’s family contacted Roseville police at 5:20 p.m. Sunday and requested a welfare check.
“They hadn’t heard from him for a few days,” Gunther said. “They were worried about him and asked if officers could check on him.”
Doane said that one neighbor attempted to check on McGhee.
“He did enter the house and found some things that didn’t look right,” Doane said. “He left the house and talked to the family.”
Officers arrived at the man’s home at the 500 block of Farridge Drive and checked the residence. Officers searched rooms and found McGhee’s body.
“The victim was shot multiple times,” Doane said.
Doane said the officers secured the crime scene as quickly as possible.
“We needed to get a warrant to thoroughly search the house,” Doane said.
Doane said that no one reported gunshots and no items appear to be missing from the house.
“However, the investigation is just beginning,” he said. “Something might turn up. We’ll wait and see.”
Doane said that investigators have been in contact with both McGhee’s ex-wife and current wife. He said that McGhee’s current wife is away on a trip.
“That’s why our investigators haven’t formally interviewed her,” Doane said.
Yellow-and-black crime scene tape and orange pylons cordoned off the victim’s house as crime scene investigators, wearing white jumpsuits, carried cameras and other equipment into the McGhee house. Neighbors William and Anglea Strickler said this shocked them.
“We lived here for 10 years now,” Angela Strickler said. “We’ve never had anything like this happen in the neighborhood. It’s always quiet here.”
The Stricklers said they did not know McGhee by name but knew him by sight. They said he seemed friendly but kept to himself.
“He was always nice and pleasant, would always smile and wave,” Angela Strickler said. “I feel so bad for his kids. This has to be a terrible time for them.”
The Stricklers had been out of town over the weekend. When they arrived home Sunday afternoon, they noticed McGhee’s daughter talking to other neighbors.
“She was upset,” William Strickler said. “She hadn’t heard from her dad in a few days and was worried about him.”
Strickler said when she later saw the police and crime scene tape, she felt sick.
“It’s something you see on TV,” she said. “But you never expect in your own neighborhood.”
Gunther said the detectives were continuing their investigation.
Miller is tentatively scheduled for arraignment in court at 1 p.m. April 20.
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Police are investigating a Roseville man’s death after making a welfare check at his home late Sunday afternoon.
Dee Dee Gunther, department spokeswoman, said concerned family members contacted Roseville police at 5:20 p.m. and requested a welfare check.
“They hadn’t heard from him for a few days,” Gunther said. “They were worried about him and asked if officers could check on him.”
Officers arrived at the man’s home at the 500 block of Farridge Drive and checked the residence. Officers searched rooms and found the man’s body.
In earlier media reports, Roseville police said they were treating the case as a homicide and could not comment on what their suspicions were or what evidence was found.
Gunther said the victim’s name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.